RVs
Before you get started buying an RV consider the idea that you could rent one. RVShare clickable from the picture above can get you started with renting an RV so you know what it is you are getting into.
So you’ve decided that rather than pull a big trailer you’d rather drive your temporary home. This would be driving an RV or a Recreational Vehicle. They come in a few different types. Class A, B, and C.
Starting with the top of the line is Class A. These are the huge RVs you will see going down the road. Often thought of as tour busses, these range from 29 to 45 feet in length and typically feature all the extras you could want.
These are often found with full kitchens, full bathrooms, multiple sleeping areas that may even include a master bedroom. They will often have a living area, dining area, even full sized refrigerators or bathtubs.
For all this luxury you will be paying a pretty penny. On the absolute cheapest and used we are looking just south of 100K. You can easily spend over half a million on these homes on wheels.
They are very large and can be rough to drive especially on tight roads or in the moutains. Expect in the range of 8 – 13 miles per gallon here.
Class B are the small guys on the block. Many of them are built with van chasis. When you think of van life this is the kind of thing you would be dealing with.
They have much less space. You can expect to find a kitchenette, storage space, a sleeping area that may double as storage when not being used. You might get a small bathroom or some kind of outdoor shower. Many people will set up solar capabilities on these sorts of vehicles.
You might find a used one of these in the 50K range, but they can easily reach 200K+. These are best for those that don’t want to spend too much time inside and definitely for those who don’t ride with many people.
The best thing is they are easier to navigate can have four wheel drive and can get you just about anywhere and should get you somewhere between 18 – 20 MPG.
The other category is the Class C. This is somewhat the middleground for RVs. These have a lot of features of the Class A, but it isn’t quite as nice. Doesn’t quite feel like a moving home. They can run between 21 and 41 feet long.
These will often times have a full kitchen and bathroom. They will typically have multiple sleeping areas, but many of them may double as dining or living room seating. They can have a private bedroom and slide outs that make them feel bigger.
If you are looking for a used Class C, they can be as cheap as 20K, these often are some of the longer models as they tend to get traded in for smaller models. Top of the line creeps into 200K territory, but once you start reaching those prices you may want to consider moving up to a Class A.
The maneuverability of these is somewhere in the middle. Icy mountain road with switchbacks may be tough, but otherwise it is a lot like driving a big moving truck. Just like everything else with a Class C, they are in the middle for gas mileage. They run 10 – 15 MPG.
Some of the other areas to consider with an RV is getting around. If you are driving your house how will you get to a grocery store or adventure along the way. This is where the difference between an RV and trailer seem minimal to me. In order to have some autonomy when you park your RV you probably will want a car. If you bring a car you will have to pull it. At which point you could have gone with a trailer and pulled it instead of the RV pulling the car.
You also want to consider maintenance. RVs, trailers, and campers are all moving vehicles. Cabinetry, plumbing, and furniture tend to take a bit of a beating as they bounce down the road. You will want to plan to spend some on maintenance each year.
The biggest positive to RVs over trailers and campers are that you have an engine that is attached. Although you may have an additional generator or may use electricity at a camp site, having the backup of the engine and its heater or ability to remove you from a situation with little notice is a great benefit.